ELLENSBURG, Wash. – A clutch three-run homer from
Bodee Wright and strong pitching performances lifted #2 Montana State University Billings to a 5-4 win over #3 Central Washington in game one of the GNAC Tournament on Thursday afternoon.
Trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh, the Yellowjackets staged a late rally sparked by a leadoff single from
Kaden Bertram, a sacrifice bunt from Jalen Elmer, and a walk from
Parker Bleggi. That set the stage for Wright, who delivered a go-ahead three-run blast to left field. The win marked MSUB's first GNAC Tournament victory since May 12, 2022.
Jackson Betancourt started on the mound and kept the Yellowjackets in the game, allowing just two earned runs across six innings while striking out four.
Hayden Mullins took over in the seventh and held CWU to two hits and one run over the final three innings to earn his fifth win of the season.
Offensively, Wright and
Kaden Kirshenbaum powered the attack, combining for six of the team's 10 hits. Wright went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, earning Intermountain Health Player of the Game honors. Kirshenbaum also added a 3-for-4 day while driving in two.
HEAR FROM COACH WADDOUPS: "Betancourt did a nice job of pitching to a tough Central Washington lineup. His quality start gave us chance to win late in the game. There were a few tough innings that he executed pitches that kept us in the game. It was great to get 7-9 in our lineup going in the 7
th. The leadoff single from Bertram, sacrifice bunt from Elmer, and a walk from Bleggi led to the game winning three run blast from Wright."
In his 48
th career start,
Jackson Betancourt took the mound in the opening game of the 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament. In the top of the first, the Wildcats got on the board early after a leadoff double. Betancourt stayed composed and got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts. In the bottom half of the first, the Yellowjackets responded with authority, scoring two runs on three hits.
Bodee Wright and
Zack Blaszak got things started with back-to-back singles, followed by a walk from
Jack Nehler with
Kaden Kirshenbaum doing the damage on a two RBI base hit to left field to give MSUB the 2-1 advantage.
After a scoreless third inning, Central Washington pulled ahead, scratching across one run in the top of the fourth and one in the top of the fifth. Betancourt continued his solid outing before being relieved by
Hayden Mullins. Betancourt finished his outing with four strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs in his six innings of work. CWU's Daniel Charron continued to silence the Yellowjacket lineup until the bottom of the seventh.
Kaden Bertram led things off with a base knock, followed by a walk from
Parker Bleggi. With runners on first and second and
Bodee Wright sent a go-ahead three-run homer over the left field wall to give MSUB a two-run lead. The Wildcats were able to push another run across in the eighth, but Mullins closed it out in the ninth to lead the 'Jackets to a 5-4 victory.
HEAR FROM COACH WADDOUPS: "Our defense did a great job of controlling the baseball today. Bodee getting the line drive double play was a game changer for us. I loved the early start with a pair of runs, Charron did a nice job pitching in the middle innings, but our guys just kept hitting the ball hard. Wright, Blaszak, Nehler, and Kirshenbaum really stepped up and performed for us today. The top of our lineup maked it tough on opposing teams and they showed that today.
SERIES STATISTIC LEADERS
H: Bodee Wright (3);
Kaden Kirshenbaum (3)
R: Bodee Wright (2); Three players tied (1)
RBI: Bodee Wright (3);
Kaden Kirshenbaum (2)
IP: Jackson Betancourt (6.0);
Hayden Mullins (3.0)
SO: Jackson Betancourt (4)
W/S: Hayden Mullins (W)
THE BUZZ: Bodee Wright was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after going 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs, including the game winning go-ahead homer in the bottom of the seventh.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings baseball team is back in action at 5:00 PM (MT), facing off against #1 Northwest Nazarene for game three of the GNAC Tournament. Live statistics for the GNAC Tournament can be found
here, the live stream link can be found
here, and tickets can be purchased
here.
